MY EXPERIENCE WITH NDI DIBIA: THE EXCITEMENT, THE CONFUSION, AND THE FEAR

Part 1: The Curiosity That Started It All

In 2023/2024, I found myself drawn into a world I had only heard whispers about. A world of Ndi Dibia, divination, spiritual powers, and ancient Igbo traditions.

What began as mere curiosity soon turned into a personal quest to understand the science or perhaps the mystery behind what many people call omenala practices.

Unfortunately, I never found the time to carry out the full research project I had envisioned. Yet the experiences I encountered along the way left me with more questions than answers.

And to this day, some of those questions still haunt me.

It all began with a story.

One afternoon, while undergoing a tech program at WHAIafrica Hub, Chidimma Obianumba shared an experience that immediately captured my attention.

She narrated how a vehicle she was travelling in broke down along a highway. Nearby was a blind Dibia. According to her, the man described details of her life, her past, and even things about her future. More astonishingly, despite being blind, he reportedly identified the colours of the clothes she was wearing.

I was stunned.

How was that possible?

I fired question after question at Chidimma. Instead of answering, she looked at me with surprise.

"Are you sure you're Igbo?" she asked.

Then she laughed.

"You call yourself Ada Africa and you don't know these simple things about our traditions? Don’t you have someone in your family who practices omenala"

The more she spoke, the more curious I became.

What exactly was happening behind these stories?

Was there a hidden science?

A spiritual phenomenon?

Or was there another explanation entirely?

Chidimma's responses were unable to satisfy my curiosity,  so I eventually asked her to connect me directly with the blind Dibia.

Then she added a warning.

"I'll give you his contact, but whatever comes out of it is entirely your responsibility."

That statement alone was enough to send a chill down my spine.

Yet my curiosity only grew stronger.

I had no idea that this was only the beginning.

Another Encounter

Not long after my father's death in 2023, a landlord who belonged to the same landlords' association as my late father began speaking with me regularly.

He told me about his life.

How his business had collapsed.

How he had become desperately poor.

How help never came when he needed it most.

And then, how everything suddenly changed.

Today, he owned multiple properties, including several four-storey buildings. His children lived abroad. One of his daughters practised as an Ezenwanyi.

As he spoke, I listened carefully.

He asked about myself, what i do and life plans 

As usual, presented myself as nobody, seeking help with bits of challenges faced  

Eventually, he told me that a particular man had played a major role in restoring his fortunes.

Naturally, I wanted details.

Instead of answering my questions, he simply smiled.

"You need to see it yourself."

A date was fixed.

We were going to Awkuzu.

I was curious.

But I was also afraid.

What exactly was I walking into?

The Azigbo Mystery

Around the same period, an in-law of mine became seriously ill.

The family discussed strange events involving an Ofo and how the return of the Ofo appeared connected to an improvement in his condition. Medical tests that had previously shown nothing suddenly began producing clearer diagnoses.

The story fascinated me.

Then I heard about another Dibia from Azigbo.

According to relatives, he could reveal details about people without ever meeting them.

Again, curiosity got the better of me.

I requested his contact to ascertain the truth

By now, I had begun collecting phone numbers of various Dibias I heard about through friends, and even radio programmes.

My intention was simple:

One day, I wanted to interview them all.

I wanted to understand how these practices worked.

What was real?

What was psychological?

What was spiritual?

And what was merely performance?

Looking back today, I still regret never completing that research. 

But something unexpected happened.

Instead of simply researching, I started calling them.

For fun.

For Igba Afa.

Just to hear what they would say.

I never allowed any ritual to be performed on me.

Yet Chidimma kept warning me.

Again and again.

"Stop playing with things you don't understand."

I laughed it off.

At the time, I thought I was merely conducting research.

I didn't realize I was stepping deeper into a world that would eventually leave me confused, frightened, and searching for answers.

And then came my first visit to a Dibia 

Watch out for part 2